Combination vacuum cleaner tool



Nov..22, 1960 w. N. KEMNITZ COMBINATION VACUUM CLEANER TOOL Filed Oct. 6, 1955 [rm em; or: Warren NAemnxz,

H/s Attoi COMBINATION VACUUM CLEANER TOOL Warren N. Kemnitz, Willoughby, Ohio, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Oct. '6, 1955, Ser. No. 538,996 3 Claims. 01. 15-417 This invention relates generally to a detachable cleaning tool for a vacuum cleaner and particularly to one having a plurality of nozzles for cleaning diflerent types of surfaces.

Contemporary vacuum cleaners are normally provided witha plurality of separate, detachable cleaning tools. While numerous specific tools have been devised for specific purposes and, therefore, any number of attachments may be supplied with a vacuum cleaner, in generally, there are four or five basic vacuum cleaner tools which are most widely used. These are tools which will clean the following surfaces: floors, rugs, walls, upholstery and furniture. While there is some overlapping in the functions of the tools, in that some will clean a number of the mentioned surfaces, in general, most vacuum cleaners are supplied with a separate floor tool, rug tool, upholstery tool, crevice tool and dusting tool. During the course of cleaning a single room, it is not unlikely that a vacuum cleaner user would use all of these tools. In order to do this, it is necessary that the vacuum cleaner user always have with her all of these tools, and that when switching from cleaning one type of surface to another, let us say, from a rug to the top of a table, it is necessary that she remove the rug tool and mount the dusting tools. In order to alleviate this situation, combination tools have been devised which include a plurality of cleaning nozzles which may be used selectively to clean different types of surfaces. In combination tools of this type heretofore used, of which the applicant is aware, the tool has a pair of communicating nozzles, each with a socket'formed in it, and it is connected to the vacuum cleaner by inserting the vacuum cleaner wand in one of the sockets. The free nozzle is then used to clean. It should be apparent that this is an unsanitary procedure for the reason that the wand has to be inserted into the nozzle, which comes in direct contact with dirt and which more than likely has been used prior to switching from one nozzle to the other. It should be apparent further that a minimum sized socket has to be maintained in each nozzle in order to accommodate the wand. This results, in some nozzle applications, in providing a larger opening in the nozzle than is necessary or desired. Examples of the latter are crevice nozzles and upholstery nozzles, wherein it is necessary that the nozzle openings be very small and/or narrow.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved, unitary, combination, vacuum cleaner tool which has a plurality of nozzles of diiferent cleaning characteristics, each of which may be selectively used and is as eiiective when utilized as it would be if it were formed as part of a separate tool,

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved, unitary, combination vacuum cleaner tool which has a plurality of nozzles, each of which may be selectively used, which is simple in construction, low

in cost, and facile and sanitary in operation.

Other objects and details of that which I believe to be 2366,1715 Patented Nov. 22, 1960 2. novel and my invention will be clear from the following description and claims taken with the accompanying drawings in which is shown one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. l is a rear elevational view of the complete combination tool.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the complete combination tool.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing a portion of a vacuum cleaner wand connected to the combination tool with the upholstery cleaning nozzle operative.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view similar to Fig. 4 showing the dusting nozzle as being operative.

The improved combination vacuum cleaner tool may be used with any type of vacuum cleaner which has a wand through which dirt-laden air is sucked; it comprises a body 10 which may be molded or cast out of a suitable metal, plastic or rubber, or the like, and which is formed by two main parts 12 and 14. The body may be separated on the dashed line A shown in Fig. 2 to form the two parts, and the parts may be connected in any conventional manner. When assembled, the body has an end position shaped to form a flared nozzle 18 having an elongated, narrow slot 20 formed therein; nozzle 18 comprises an upholstery nozzle.

A series of passageways are formed in the body. Slot 2t communicates with a passageway 22, which intersects passageway 24, and the latter terminates in a generally trapezoidal shaped opening 25 that is formed in an end portion of the body which is spaced from the body end portion that forms nozzle 18. It will be noted that the slot 20 is formed at one end of the body and the opening 25 at the other. In the opening 25 there is disposed a rigid insert 26. The insert has a turned over end 28 disposed within the body and a flange 29 disposed adjacent the body, which cooperate with the end portion of the body surrounding opening 25 to mount the insert. The insert terminates in curled end 30 which is outside the body. Secured to the body and disposed around the insert 26 is a plurality of bristles which in the aggregate form a brush tufting 32. The end portion of the body surrounding opening 25, insert 26 and tufting 32 generally comprise a dusting nozzle; the insert 26 prevents clogging of the opening 25 by the tufting 32 during use.

In the central portion of the body 10 on one side thereof is formed an apertured protuberance 33. Protuberance 33 has two, generally planar, wall portions 34 and 36, which are disposed generally at right angles to each other. Wall 34 is adjacent to the upholstery nozzle 18 and has an opening 38 formed therein. In the opening 38 there is provided a notch 40 for the purpose of receiving a latching member secured to the vacuum cleaner wand. However, if the wand is to be connected to the combination tool by friction or some other means, which may be done if it is desired, the notch 40 may be omitted. Spaced from the opening 38 and entirely within the body it) there is formed a circular seat 42 which is coaxial with the opening 38. The aligned opening 38 and seat 42 constitute a wand receiving socket, i.e., a means for receiving an end of a vacuum cleaner wand for the purpose of attaching the tool to the wand with the dusting nozzle operative. This is shown in Fig. 5, wherein the path the dirt-laden air traverses during operation of the vacuum cleaner is indicated by the arrows. 'It will be seen that the air enters through the dusting nozzle brush tufting 32, and passes through insert 26, passageway 24, and into the wand W. It will also be observed that when in this position the unused upholstery nozzle 18 lies closely adjacent to wand W and hence is out of the way during operation of the device.

The other protuberance wall 36 has an opening 44 formed therein which is similar to the opening 38. Inwardly of the body is formed a second circular set 46, which is spaced from and coaxial with opening 44. As in the case of the opening 38 and seat 42, the connecting end of a wand W may be inserted selectively into the wand receiving socket formed by aligned opening 44 and seat 46. However, in the latter instance, the upholstery nozzle of the tool will be operative. This is shown in Fig. 4 wherein it will be observed that the dirt-laden air enters through the slot 20 of the upholstery nozzle 18 and passes through the passage 22 and into the wand W. When in this position, the unused dusting nozzle lies closely adjacent to the wand W, and hence is out of the way during operation of the device.

A combination dusting and upholstery tool has been described which may be used selectively for either purpose. When using it with either of its nozzles operative, it will be observed that the wand is not inserted internally of either of the cleaning nozzles; this provides for a sanitary arrangement. Additionally, it will be observed that due to the fact that it is not necessary to insert t .e wand into the nozzles of my improved combination tool, the functionally optimum sizes of the cleaning nozzles may be maintained. It is not necessary, for example, to widen the narrow cleaning slot 20 by providing an opening large enough to receive the connecting end of the wand W. It will be apparent that the efi'ectiveness of some cleaning tools is based upon maintaining certain sized and shaped openings. In the case of an upholstery tool, it is desirable that the nozzle opening be elongated and narrow; to widen the opening would damage the functional effectiveness of the nozzle. Further, it should be observed that the combination tool may include nozzles of other types than those described. In other words, it is not necessary that one be an upholstery nozzle and the other be a dusting nozzle. If it is desired, either of the nozzles may be a rug, floor, wall, crevice or other type of nozzle. Lastly, it should be observed that the combination tool may be inexpensively produced for it is made up primarily of two cast or molded parts which may be readily assembled with any additional parts necessary, such as, the insert 26 and the bristles which form the brush tufting 32, to form the various types of nozzles.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of my invention are not limited to the particular details of construction of the examples illustrated, and I contemplate that various and other modifications and applications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, my intention that the appended claims will cover such modifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A combination tool for use with a vacuum cleaner comprising a body having two spaced end portions which form two separate cleaning nozzles, each nozzle having a diiferent cleaning characteristic and being physically spaced from the other, each nozzle being adapted to be used independently of the other to perform a different type of cleaning operation, said body having wall means apart from said nozzles and accessible from the exterior of said tool through portions of said tool other than said nozzles for selective connection to a vacuum cleaner wand in either of two positions, said wall means defining a pair of openings each adapted to receive the end of said wand, each of said openings being in communication with both of said nozzles and the other of said openings, said wall means being arranged so that said wand when connected in either of said openings cuts 011 communication between the opening with which it is connected and the other opening as well as one of said nozzles, whereby when the wand is connected in one position, only one of the nozzles communicates with the wand, and when the wand is connected in the other position, only the other nozzle communicates with the wand.

2. A combination tool for use with a vacuum cleaner comprising a body having two spaced end portions which form two separate cleaning nozzles, each nozzle having a different cleaning characteristic and being physically spaced from the other, each nozzle being adapted to be used independently of the other to perform a different type of cleaning operation, said body having a pair of intersecting passages and a pair of openings, said openings being accessible from the exterior of said tool through portions of said tool other than said nozzles, one of said passages communicating with one of said nozzles and one of said openings, and the other of said passages communicating with the other of said nozzles and the other of said openings, each of said openings being adapted to receive the end of a vacuum cleaner wand, said body being constructed and arranged so that when said wand is connected in one of said openings it bypasses the passage communicating with the other of said openmgs.

3. A combination tool for use with a vacuum cleaner comprising a body having two spaced end portions which form two separate cleaning nozzles, each nozzle having a different cleaning characteristic and being physically spaced from the other, each nozzle being adapted to be used independently of the other to perform a different type of cleaning operation, said body having a pair of intersecting passages and a pair of openings, each of said passages having a seat formed thereabout, each seat being spaced from and coaxial with one of said openings, said openings being accessible from the exterior of said tool through portions of said tool other than said nozzles, one of said passages communicating with one of said nozzles and one of said openings, and the other of said passages communicating with the other of said nozzles and the other of said' openings, each of said openings being adapted to receive the end of a vacuum cleaner wand, whereby when said wand is inserted in one of said openings it extends across the passage communicating with the other of said openings and reposes in one of said seats, thereby placing said wand into communication with the passage about which said one of said seats is formed and out of communication with the passage across which it extends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 647,225 Graham Apr. 10, 1900 1,016,649 Spencer Feb. 6, 1912 1,740,001 Carlstedt Dec. 17, 1929 2,068,496 Linghammar Jan. 19, 1937 2,143,845 Edstrom Jan. 17, 1939 2,206,254 Heuberger July 2, 1940 2,296,429 Ell Sept. 22, 1942 2,351,507 Hallock June 13, 1944 2,842,793 Hurd July 15, 1958 2,857,614 Lofgren Oct. 28, 1958 2,857,615 Anderson Oct. 28, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 882,711 France Mar. 8, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION Patent No 2 960 7l6 November 22, 1960 Warren NrKemnitz It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered pat ent requiring correctionand that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 39, for "tools" read tool line 69, after "nozzles" and before the comma insert of different cleaning characteristics column 2, line 24, for "position" read portion column 4, line 60, list of references cited for "July 2 1940" read July 2 1944 Signed and sealed this 27th day of June 1961,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

